Metalzone.gr recently conducted an interview with Agnete M. Kirkevaag (vocals) and BP M. Kirkevaag (guitar) of Norway's MADDER MORTEM. Watch the chat below.
"Deadlands", the 2002 album from MADDER MORTEM, has been re-released via Peaceville Records. This reissue features two new recordings exclusive to this release in the shape of "The Exile", structured around extras from the writing process from the "Deadlands" era, and "Deadlands Revisited" a spine-tingling re-imagining of the original with violin courtesy of Ingvild "Sareeta" Johannsen from RAM-ZET. Also included are new liner notes by MADDER MORTEM singer Agnete M. Kirkevaag.
Commented the band: "We reccommend you check out this re-release for some seriously bleak, monstrous and heavy songs. After nine years, it still feels as vital and fresh as it did in 2002. With the newly recorded bonus tracks that we are extremely proud of, there should be plenty to dive into."
"Deadlands" reissue track listing:
01. Enter 02. Necropol Lit 03. Omnivore 04. Rust Cleansing 05. Faceless 06. Distance Will Save Us 07. Silverspine 08. Jigsaw (The Pattern & The Puzzle) 09. Deadlands 10. Resonatine
North County Times recently conducted an interview with former GUNS N' ROSES/ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA guitarist Gilby Clarke. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
On the TV show "Rock Star: Supernova" in which he played in a band with ex-METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted and MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee:
"TV is really changing things. If I would have been asked to do the 'Supernova' thing five years before we did it, I would've said absolutely 'no.' But the lines between rock and TV are extremely blurry now. The rules for what and what is not acceptable in rock is changing. Producers of the show said if you took everyone who bought a GN'R record, a MÖTLEY CRÜE album, and a METALLICA record that decided to watch the show, that'd be only 10 percent of their audience. I never thought about it like that before. There just aren't other opportunities to get that kind of attention for your band that exist out there."
On sharing the stage with other bands:
"I've always thought my strength was being able to juggle all factors. When I'm in my own band, I'm the singer and the guitar player, but I also have to keep the show going. And I've always fed off of the audience in that way. If everyone's going wild, well that's a good show and things are easy. But sometimes, especially when you're part of a festival, people might not be there to see you specifically. When that's the case, you really need to know how to work it. You've got to sell the crowd and I've always had an easy time with that. It comes naturally to me."
On having one eye open to the many different opportunities available to expand his experience as a guitar player:
"I'm a professional musician. It's what I do. To me, it doesn't matter what the profession is, if you don't love it and keep up with it, it isn't something that you can be great at. No matter what it is, you can always get better. And when you get a chance to play with great people, you really need to be smart enough to take it."
Metalzone.gr recently conducted an interview with vocalist/guitarist Nick of Greek thrashers SUICIDAL ANGELS. Watch the chat below.
SUICIDAL ANGELS' new album, "Sanctify The Darkness", will be released on November 20 via Nuclear Blast Records.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Bloodthirsty 02. The Pestilence Of Saints 03. Inquisition 04. Apokathilosis 05. … Lies 06. No More Than Illusion 07. Atheist 08. Beyond The Laws Of Church 09. Mourning Of The Cursed 10. Dark Abyss (Your Fate Is Colored Black) 11. Child Molester + enhanced part (2 video clips)
SUICIDAL ANGELS will support KATAKLYSM on a European tour in January 2010. Also appearing on the bill are BELPHEGOR, DARKEST HOUR and RESISTANCE.
SUICIDAL ANGELS was one of two bands who were awarded record deals with Boomer Entertainment and Nuclear Blast Records as part of a band contest launched by the Austrian management and booking company Rock The Nation.
This unique competition was presented and promoted by all leading European metal magazines, including the German, Italian, Spanish and Greek editions of Metal Hammer; Terrorizer (U.K.); Metallian (France); Scream (Norway); Rock Tribune (Belgium); Spark (Czech Republic); and the Dutch webzine LordsOfMetal.nl.
SUICIDAL ANGELS' debut album, "Eternal Domination", was released in July 2007 via OSM Records.
Legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen will release a new album called "High Impact" on December 8 (one day earlier internationally). The set is described as "a mind-boggling, high-paced compilation record" featuring a "surprise" bonus track — Yngwie's never-before-released interpretation of the MICHAEL JACKSON mega-hit classic "Beat It", which contains Malmsteen's own magical touch.
"High Impact" track listing:
01. Caprici Di Dablo 02. Brothers 03. Blitzkrieg 04. Trilogy Suite 05. Red House 06. Finale 07. Magic City 08. Arpeggios From Hell 09. Far Beyond The Sun 10. Cantabile 11. Blue 12. Overture 1622 13. Fugue 14. Beat It (MICHAEL JACKSON cover)
Rising Force Records has begun releasing rare archival concert footage that many Malmsteen collectors will want to have. The first is Yngwie in Korea, which was madea available on October 13, 2009. This is the raw footage that was shot by the Korean media, and it features no bells and whistles.
Malmsteen in March released an all-instrumental acoustic album, "Angels Of Love", which contains rearrangements of his ballad songs played on acoustic guitar and string and choir arrangements only. It is a masterpiece showing the tender, delicate version of his classic songs as well as a new composition. Yngwie also released two DVDs via Rising Force Records in March — "Live Animal" and "Live In Budokan".
"Perpetual Flame", the latest full-length studio album from Malmsteen, was the first-ever Yngwie effort to be issued via Rising Force Records, It marked the debut of Malmsteen's new singer, ex-JUDAS PRIEST/ICED EARTH frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens.
Stinky of Capital Chaos conducted an interview with singer Alexia Rodriguez of Arizona's EYES SET TO KILL when the band performed at The Boardwalk in Orangevale, California on November 5, 2009. Watch the chat below.
"The World Outside", the sophomore album from EYES SET TO KILL, sold 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 9 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
Written and recorded by the band in Los Angeles with producer Dave Aguilera (ex-OTEP, BLEED THE DREAM) and mixed by Thom Flowers (THE ATARIS), "The World Outside" showcases the band's evolution from their screamo beginnings into powerful songwriters that resonate raw emotion.
"There were things that I put into this record that I've never told anyone before, not even my sister or some of my best friends," said Alexia. "Writing was like therapy to me, because there are times when I feel so alone that I don't know how to express myself other than through music. This is who I am and what I do."
"The World Outside", the new video from EYES SET TO KILL, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Black Fawn Films' Chad Archibald (ARISE AND RUIN, FAREWELL TO FREEWAY) and Philip Carrer in Los Angeles.
"Shooting the video brought the song to life for me personally since the song is about being overwhelmed with change," said Alexia. "It was cool too express it through visual media, which allowed for a dramatic performance with zombies and violence."
Metal Injection has posted a brand new interview featuring a conversation between guest correspondent Leo Miller (vocalist of the now-defunct ANIMOSITY) and Kurt Bellou and Nate Newton of CONVERGE. During the chat, Miller asks CONVERGE about the group's new record ("Axe To Fall"), the longevity of the band, how much of a future they have together and more. Also, look out for a special cameo by vocalist Jacob Bannon who crashes the interview and starts interviewing Miller.
"Axe To Fall" sold 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 163 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on October 20 through Epitaph Records.
Produced by guitarist Kurt Ballou at his Godcity studios in Salem, Massachusetts, "Axe To Fall" features guest appearances from Steve Brodsky (CAVE IN), Adam McGrath (CAVE IN), J.R. Connors (CAVE IN, DOOMRIDERS), Uffe Cederlund (DISFEAR, ex-ENTOMBED), John Pettibone (THE VOWS, HIMSA), Steve Von Till (NEUROSIS) and Mookie Singerman (GENGHIS TRON).
New Jersey-based sextet MUTINY WITHIN (formerly MUTINY) will release its self-titled debut album on February 23, 2010 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at Bieler Bros. Studios in Pompano Beach, Florida with producer Jason Bieler (SIKTH, SKINDRED, DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL, NONPOINT) and was mixed by Jeff Rose and Martin "Ginge" Ford of Nott-In-Pill studios in Newport, Wales, United Kingdom.
The initial sessions for the CD took place at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof, who has previously worked with ALL THAT REMAINS, GOD FORBID, TRIVIUM and DEVILDRIVER, among many others.
MUTINY WITHIN recently completed a U.S. tour with SOULFLY and PRONG and will hit the road with ARCH ENEMY, EXODUS and ARSIS as part of the "Tyrants of Evil" North American tour in January/February.
MUTINY WITHIN is:
Vocals - Chris Clancy Guitar - Daniel Bage Guitar - Brandon Jacobs Bass - Andrew "AJ" Jacobs Keyboards - Drew Stavola Drums - Bill Fore
For more information, visit the band's MySpace page.
RevolverMag.com has posted a short interview with Grace Perry, vocalist of Phoenix, Arizona's death metal/grind titans LANDMINE MARATHON, as she took a break from her cover shoot for Revolver magazine's "Hottest Chicks In Metal Of All Time" issue, which is out now. Perry talks about her experience on the shoot and working with HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale, as well as her recent visit to Medieval Times. Watch it below.
Grace commented, "I am extremely excited and flattered to be on the cover of Revolver. It's such a great opportunity for me to expose LANDMINE MARATHON to a wide range of metal fans. The whole experience has been a absolute blast. I mean, when else am I going to be able to light a microphone on fire!?"
LANDMINE MARATHON has just completed work on its new full-length album, "Sovereign Descent", at guitarist Ryan Butler's Arcane Digital Recording Studios (MISERY INDEX, PHOBIA). The CD was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (CONVERGE, HATEBREED, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN). with art by Dan Seagrave (ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, MORBID ANGEL).
"Sovereign Descent" is set for an early 2010 release via Prosthetic Records.
LANDMINE MARATHON, whose sound has been compared to early Earache acts such as BOLT THROWER, CARCASS, and NAPALM DEATH, released two full-lengths on Level Plane, "Wounded" and "Rusted Eyes Awake", the latter which was reissued this year by Prosthetic Records, and several split releases. The band has shared the stage with the likes of TRAGEDY, KYLESA, SAVIOURS, BOOK OF BLACK EARTH, COLISEUM and many more.
Former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, Jason McMaster (BROKEN TEETH, DANGEROUS TOYS) and AM CONSPIRACY (featuring former DROWNING POOL singer Jason "Gong" Jones) will guest on tonight's (Saturday, October 24) edition of the "Maximum Threshold" show beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST.
"Maximum Threshold" is an Internet radio show dedicated to presenting up-and-coming hard rock bands and successful bands as well as interviews, news and music reviews.
Kulick's third solo album, "BK3", which follows 2001's "Audio Dog" and 2003's "Transformer", was mastered on July 16 at Precision Mastering in Hollywood, California. An official release date has not yet been announced.
"BK3" features guest appearances by legendary vocalist Doug Fieger (THE KNACK), Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA), Nick Simmons (Gene Simmons' son), and former KISS cohorts Gene Simmons (singing lead vocals on a track co-written with Kulick called "Ain't Gonna Die") and Eric Singer (who contributed drums on the track vocalized by Sammet). It also includes the three songs that were featured on the limited-edition EP that was created especially for Kulick's last Australian guitar clinic tour, which took him to four cities during his brief one-week visit. Included on the disc were "No Friend of Mine" featuring guest vocalist John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE, UNION, RATT, ESP), "And I Know" (featuring Kulick on vocals), and the instrumental track "Between The Lines" featuring a musical "supergroup" comprised of drummer Kenny Aronoff, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and the dual guitar attack of Kulick and Steve Lukather.
BROKEN TEETH has spent the last few months working on a new studio album titled "Viva la Rock Fantastico!" The CD, which will include guest vocals by Canadian rock 'n' roll killer Danko Jones, features such cuts as "Exploder", "Spitting Nails", "Blackheart" and the spiked-with-tequila title track.
BROKEN TEETH's previous CD, "Electric", was a collection of new and re-recorded tracks from the band's self-released albums "Broken Teeth" and "Guilty Pleasures".
JUDAS PRIEST/HALFORD singer Rob Halford will be the featured guest on tonight's (Saturday, November 7) edition of "The Classic Metal Show".
"The Classic Metal Show" can be heard every Saturday night between 9:00 p.m. EST and 3:00 a.m. EST at www.cmsradio.net.
"Get Into The Spirit", the new video from HALFORD, can be viewed at www.MetalGodShop.com. It is also available below. The song comes off HALFORD's first holiday CD "Halford III - Winter Songs", which is being released via Rob's new label Metal God Records, distributed globally by ADA Global/Warner Music Group, Fontana/Universal Music Group, Conveyor/Universal Music Canada and Sony Music Japan.
"Halford III - Winter Songs" release dates:
North America: November 3 U.K. and European Union (except Germany): November 9 Germany: November 13
"Halford III - Winter Songs" is Rob's first solo release in more than seven years, and includes a collection of new Halford-penned tracks plus traditional holiday favorites presented with original arrangements by HALFORD (Rob Halford on vocals, Roy Z. on guitar, Metal Mike Chlasciak on guitar, Mike Davis on bass and Bobby Jarzombek on drums).
Written, arranged and recorded during 2008 and 2009, "Halford III - Winter Songs" celebrates one of the most exciting holiday periods of the year.
"Well, I've always said I wanted to produce a Christmas CD," commented Halford. "The HALFORD band has assembled a fantastic release, and we're excited to have produced a collection of holiday tracks which all of us have enjoyed from a very early age."
"Halford III - Winter Songs" debuts new HALFORD tracks "Get Into The Spirit", "When Christmas Comes For Everyone", "Light Of The World", "What Child Is This", "Oh Holy Night", "Come All Ye Faithful" and more.
HALFORD's last studio album, "Crucible", came out in 2002. "Metal God Essentials, Vol. 1", a 2007 collection containing 15 songs spanning Rob Halford's solo career, featured two new songs, "Forgotten Generation" and "Drop Out".
MESHUGGAH and MNEMIC are among the acts who will perform at the next installment of the Danish Metal Awards, set to take place January 16, 2010 at Amager Bio, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The awards event will offer the attendees a chance to experience four Danish acts. Once the show comes to an end, the Swedish extreme-metallers MESHUGGAH will deliver a full set; their first performance on Danish soil in more than four years.
The latest addition to the programme are the Danes in MNEMIC, who yielded critical acclaim supporting METALLICA on a tour and opening the Orange Stage at the Roskilde Festival, while being one of the first Danish bands to win international attention abroad, having signed a record deal with Nuclear Blast Records. MNEMIC has spent two years composing its fourth album, "Sons of the System", which is due out in January 2010.
All the nominees and two more of the performers at the award show will be announced at the official Danish Metal Awards launch party on November 13. More information about the launch party will emerge in just a few days.
Tickets for the the Danish Metal Awards are 290 Danish kroner can be purchased at Billetnet.dk.
RevolverMag.com has uploaded video footage (see below) of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada metallers 3 INCHES OF BLOOD describing their new album, "Here Waits Thy Doom", released in August. Watch as frontman Cam Pipes and guitarist Shane Clark go track-by-track, explaining the meaning behind each song and how they came into being.
"Here Waits Thy Doom" sold around 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 8 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
3 INCHES OF BLOOD's previous album, "Fire Up The Blades", opened with 5,300 copies to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 147.
"Here Waits Thy Doom" was released on September 8 via Century Media Records (August 31 in Europe). The CD was recorded at Seattle's London Bridge Studios with renowned producer Jack Endino (HIGH ON FIRE).
Florida-based "shock-rockers" GENITORTURERS, featuring MORBID ANGEL frontman David "Evil D" Vincent on bass, have inked a European deal with France's Season Of Mist. The band's new album, "Blackheart Revolution", will be released in Europe on January 18, 2010. The CD was made available in the U.S. on November 3 via MVD Entertainment.
According to a press release, "Blackheart Revolution" "combines the band's signature genre-bending musical style of aggressive rock, mechanical metal and underground electric pop with all the twists and turns of a sonic roller coaster of seductive mayhem that the band has crafted over their now legendary career. Co-produced by Scott Humphrey (MÖTLEY CRÜE, ROB ZOMBIE, OZZY OSBOURNE), mixed by the masters at Chop Shop, this new release delivers exceptional songwriting and superior sound quality that is sure to deliver the intense aural fix the fans deserve. The GENITORTURERS, a band whose dark, enchanting and aggressive style has entertained the world for over a decade, now presents a new chapter in their ongoing book of provocation."
Commented frontwoman Gen: "Beholden to no one other than ourselves…we went back to our roots, to what inspired us to play music…and based on the eclectic nature of each of our musical tastes these roots ran deep and wide."
GENITORTURERS made their first seven-inch vinyl single, "Cum Junkie", available via select stores on September 30. Each hand-numbered, colored vinyl has over-the-top packaging and insane themed layouts, pressed on "high-grade virgin" vinyl.
The band had the following to say about the release: "For years the music industry has siphoned the blood, sweat and creative juices from artists. We decided that if anyone was going to OWN a piece of us, it would be the fans. In keeping with this mantra, the band is kicking off the first in a series of collectible uniquely 'impregnated vinyl seven-inches."
Commented frontwoman Gen: "We received a ton of great feedback for this song as it was on our recent 'Live! In Sin' DVD and decided this had to be the first seven-inch single, so we came up with a twisted little concept and put together a special photo shoot with our favorite resident photographer, Dan Santoni, especially for this release."
She continued, "The A side of the seven-inch includes the studio album version of 'Cum Junkie' that is set to appear on our upcoming 'Blackheart Revolution' CD, [while] the B side features a totally bangin', brand-spankin'-new 'Let's Go Cum Junkie'Gen-xx style remix by Jackal of JACKAL & HYDE."
DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED's performance at the Pepsi Music Festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina can be viewed live right now using the player below. (***UPDATE: DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED's show has now ended.***)
DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED is the band led by VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan.
Drummer Geoff Reading recently left DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED and was replaced by Isaac Carpenter (LOUDERMILK, GOSLING, OURS, THE EXIES).
"Sick", the latest full-length album from DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED, landed at position No. 43 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
"Sick" was released in North America on April 7 via Century Media Records. An e-card for the CD, which was produced by Martin Feveyear (PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, KINGS OF LEON), is available at this location.
In addition to McKagan and Carpenter, LOADED features bassist Jeff Rouse (VENDETTA RED, ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE) and guitarist Mike Squires (ALIEN CRIME SYNDICATE).
LOADED released "Live Episode" (1999) and "Dark Days" (2001), before other commitments meant LOADED were put on the back burner to some extent, although they never split up.
Former SENTENCED drummer Vesa Ranta has launched a new project called THE MAN-EATING TREE, also featuring current/former members of POISONBLACK, REFLEXION and EMBRAZE.
The band, which entered the studio this past summer, consists of the following musicians:
Tuomas Tuominen (ex-FALL OF THE LEAFE) - Vocals Janne Markus (POISONBLACK) - Guitar Aaron Rantonen (LASTEN JUNA) - Guitar Mikko Uusimaa (REFLEXION) - Bass Heidi Määttä (ex-EMBRAZE) - Keyboards Vesa Ranta (ex-SENTENCED) - Drums
Century Media has set a November 13 release date for SENTENCED's complete discography in a coffin-styled box set. Entitled "Coffin - The Complete Discography", the set will include 16 CDs (144 audio tracks), 2 DVDs (42 videos) and a book.
Former SENTENCEDguitarist and main songwriter Miika Tenkula was found dead at his home on February 19, 2009. He was 34 years old. According to a statement released by the surviving members of the band, Tenkula "had a genetic heart condition and died from a sudden attack at his home."
SENTENCED's posthumous DVD, "Buried Alive", was certified platinum last year in the band's native Finland. The disc topped the official Finnish chart upon its release in late 2006.
Guitarist Janick Gers of British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN revealed to BBC News that the band has already started writing songs for its 15th studio album. "We're going to Paris for three weeks to work on some new stuff," Gers said at the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards 2009 on November 2 at the Park Lane Hotel in London, England. "The most important thing for a band is to create new music, otherwise you're not valid — you become a parody."
MAIDEN became the first outfit in history to travel round the world in a customized jet during their "Somewhere Back in Time" tour, as detailed in award-winning movie "Flight 666".
The Boeing 757 carried musicians, crew, gear and guests with singer Bruce Dickinson, a qualified airline pilot, at the controls.
Speaking in the Iron Maiden Fan Club magazine, IRON MAIDEN manager Rod Smallwood recently said, "It took a long time to set up the last tour because of the plane. It had never been done before and we didn't know what we were letting ourselves in for. The idea came a couple of years before that and we got into it a year ahead of the game.
"I'm starting to get my head round what we're going to do next summer. It hasn't been decided yet but we'll do something, so I've got to speak to promoters and agents.
"Now we know the plane works, by Christmas we'll have the pattern set. We'll probably be going for the plane and getting that held for us.
"But at the moment, the album's the key thing on the agenda. The guys will be getting together shortly and they're probably starting to get their heads round new ideas for songs individually. Some of them may meet up before we formally get together.
"We'll spend a period writing, we'll take Christmas off and then we'll get into recording. We'll finish the album in time for it to be out next year and I'm just getting my head round what we want to do touring-wise.
"We'll be doing some new places on the next tour. I won't tell you where they are - they're not finalized yet, but some work has been done. One place we can't play that we'd like to is Bolivia — the altitude is just too high for the type of physical performance the guys do. It's a shame."
Former GUNS N' ROSES and current ADLER'S APPETITE drummer Steven Adler portrays Stevie in "Dahmer vs. Gacy", an action/comedy about Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy battling it out helmed by and starring Ford Austin. Adler reportedly plays a guy that Jeffrey Dahmer picks up at a bar and then later murders by sticking a drill into his head.
Check out the movie trailer below. (Note: Adler can be seen very briefly around the :41 and 1:03 marks.)
Adler was featured in "Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House", an eight-episode, one hour series that premiered in January 2009 on VH1.
ADLER'S APPETITE's current lineup includes Adler, vocalist Rick Stitch (of the Los Angeles-based group LADYJACK), guitarists Alex Grossi (HOOKERS 'N' BLOW, ex-QUIET RIOT) and Michael Thomas (FASTER PUSSYCAT) along with bassist Chip Z'nuff (ENUFF Z'NUFF).
ADLER'S APPETITE played its first show with Stitch on April 17, 2009 at the The Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, California.
Singer Sheldon Tarsha announced his departure from ADLER'S APPETITE in April, saying it was "time now for me to follow my heart and continue working with my original band."
Jeff Becerra of reactivated California death metal pioneers POSSESSED was interviewed by HellaMETAL Jenn of LateNiteSinners.com when the band performed at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco on November 1, 2009. The chat can now be viewed below.
POSSESSED's current lineup features sole original member Becerra (vocals) backed by musicians from California's SADISTIC INTENT.
In the October 2008 issue of Guitar World magazine, Becerra talked candidly about the 1989 shooting that left him paralyzed from the chest down, his battle with drugs and alcohol, the early days of the Bay Area thrash metal scene and his future as a wheelchair-bound frontman for the death metal legends.
Regarding the robbery that left him paralyzed, Becerra said: "The first bullet went into my chest about six inches above the nipple, went through the lung and stuck on the inside of my spine. I put my hand up as I was going down, and the second bullet clipped the top of my ring finger off. But at least it didn't hit me in the head. So I was on the ground, and the first guy put the gun to my head and pulled the trigger, and the gun jammed — luckily for me, some criminals don't know how to clean their automatic weapons."
On performing at the 2007 Wacken Open Air festival in Germany, Becerra told Guitar World: "The show was amazing, and it was a great way for me to get back into the scene — but I was terrified, just shaking onstage in front of like 60,000 people. It was really emotional for me to be back out there, and I was really hoping that people wouldn't look at the chair and see 'poor Jeff.' I just didn't want to make a fool of myself and of the POSSESSED name — I didn't want to lose the only thing I ever was, you know?"
Guitar World has posted exclusive interview outtakes and photos of Jeff at this location.
SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR guitarist Jim Root recently took Dunlop TV through his entire guitar rig backstage at a SLIPKNOT show. Watch the footage below.
The special-edition CD/DVD reissue of SLIPKNOT's self-titled debut album sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first, shortened week of release (the set came out on Wednesday, September 9 whereas new albums usually go on sale on Tuesdays in the U.S.). The album has now shifted more than two million units domestically, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The CD portion of the "Slipknot" reissue features 25 tracks, including the original album as well as rare demos, remixes, rare b-sides and more. A companion documentary, entitled "of the (sic): Your Nightmares, Our Dreams", is packed with behind the scenes footage of SLIPKNOT from 1999. This inside look features both live and backstage footage from around the world. The DVD also features a never-before-seen concert and all the music videos from their debut cycle, as well as other surprises.
In the decade since the release of "Slipknot", the band has amassed accolades that changed the face of metal. SLIPKNOT has gone on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide, win a Grammy, headline Madison Square Garden and Download festival, have numerous #1 and top 5 rock tracks and videos, as well as debut at #1 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Video footage of Chino Moreno from the DEFTONES laying down tracks on the new METHODS OF MAYHEM album at MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer and METHODS OF MAYHEM mastermind Tommy Lee's recording studio called The Atrium in Calabasas, California can be viewed below.
METHODS OF MAYHEM's "Public Mayhem" album collaboration project was launched on October 5. Lee and METHODS producer Scott Humphrey posted isolated instrument tracks, or stems, from the upcoming album on the web site ThePublicRecord.com. Anyone with a great musical idea is invited to play a part in helping to achieve true "Public Mayhem", i.e. collaborate on the album. A wide range of formats are available to work with, including RiffWorks, WAV, Logic, GarageBand, Pro Tools and the Four Track 3.0 iPhone application. Participants will also have a chance to perform with METHODS OF MAYHEM at their record-release show.
"Public Mayhem" is set for release in early 2010.
A charitable donation will be made on behalf of all participants to the MusiCares Foundation. Established by The Recording Academy in 1989, MusiCares provides emergency health and human services and addiction recovery resources to music people in need. Whether artists or other industry professionals, MusiCares is there with a safety net of support for those who have given the gift of music to our lives.
Video and sound updates are being posted at ThePublicRecord.com featuring submission highlights and weekly giveaways for the best audio and video entries.
METHODS OF MAYHEM earlier in the year inked a worldwide deal with Loud & Proud Records, a Roadrunner Records imprint focusing on established artists.
Lee formed METHODS OF MAYHEM in 1999 after he left MÖTLEY CRÜE. The all-star project collaboration with rapper TiLo featured input from LIMP BIZKIT's Fred Durst, THE CRYSTAL METHOD, Kid Rock, Snoop Dogg, and Mix Master Mike. After signing to MCA, METHODS OF MAYHEM issued its self-titled debut LP in late 1999.
Finnish gothic metallers TO/DIE/FORhave uploaded a demo version of a new song, "Angelica", to their MySpace page. The track is one of four cuts —alongside "Unknown III", "My Hysteria" and "Sad" (working title) — which will be used to procure new management and a record deal. Vocalist Jape Perätalo previously stated that "most of the guitars [on the new album] will be played by Krisse. He is not a band member. He is doing this as a session musician and he is Tonmi's [Lillman; TO/DIE/FOR drummer] friend from Helsinki." He added, "We still do not know who will be TO/DIE/FOR guitarist in future, but now we have 'one' who could be."
TO/DIE/FOR will play in Lebanon on November 13 at Forum De Beyrouth. Perätalo states, "We still do not have a new guitarist, so we are using session guitarists [for] this show. There is one guy you already might know, and he is...dadadaaaa... Mika 'Alli' Ahtiainen. Another guitarist will be Toni Toikkanen from Helsinki. We are very thankful for their help with this show!"
TO/DIE/FOR's lineup for the Lebanon concert will be as follows:
Jape Perätalo - Vocals Tonmi Lillman - Drums Josey Strandman - Bass Toni Toikkanen - Guitar Mika Ahtiainen - Guitar
TO/DIE/FOR's fifth album, "Wounds Wide Open", was released in Finland in October 2006. The follow-up to 2005's "IV" was recorded by Samu Oittinen at Fantom Studios and by Jari-Jukka Nippala at Sonic Image, and was mixed at Sweden's Abyss Studios by Peter Tägtgren (DIMMU BORGIR, CELTIC FROST).
SAXON's Biff Byford, CANCER BATS' Liam Cormier and RISE TO REMAIN's Austin Dickinson were guests on last night's (Friday, November 16) edition of IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson's weekly BBC 6 Music radio program, dubbed "The Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show". According to posting on the program's web site, the trio "enthused over the music that's inspired them over the years."
You can now listen to the show for the next seven days at BBC.co.uk.
Christian hard rockers STRYPER have cancelled two more shows — November 6 at San Antonio, Texas' Scout Bar and November 7 at Odessa, Texas' Dos Amigos — on their current tour due to singer/rhythm guitarist Michael Sweet's lingering bout with the flu.
Refunds may be made at the point of purchase. Fan meet-and-greet purchases will be automatically refunded.
Earlier this week, the band announced Sweet's illness and postponed Wednesday's show in Dallas and Thursday's concert in Houston. Those two shows have been rescheduled for December 22 and December 21, respectively. They will feature a special Christmas segment that will include the performance of "Winter Wonderland" and their classic holiday tune "Reason for the Season", which the band says it has never performed live.
Sweet said in a statement: "I've come down with a horrible case of the flu and now it seems to be spreading throughout the bus.
"I see reports all over the nation where bad cases of the flu are hitting America and had hoped we could make it through this entire tour without it affecting us, but unfortunately it has. It's really bad and I wish our friends and fans all the best with their health during this season. I have seen a doctor and am on medication and anticipate a speedy recovery."
Ulterium Records (through an arrangement with the Italian label Frontiers Records) will release a limited 12" picture-disc edition of the latest STRYPER album, "Murder By Pride", in Europe on December 4. The LP will be strictly limited to 500 copies, and will come with a full color poster inlay.
"Murder By Pride" sold 5,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released in Europe on August 28 via Frontiers Records. It was made available in the U.S. on July 21 through Big 3 Records.
STRYPER kicked off its 25th-anniversary tour on September 11 at the House Of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts. Quality video footage of the performance can be viewed at this location. One of the clips is available below.
SOULFLY was scheduled to enter a studio in Los Angeles, California on Friday (November 6) to begin recording its new album for an early 2010 release. The group's bassist, Bobby Burns, writes on SOULFLY's official forum, "We've been playing together better than ever in recent times and we're all really excited to get to work on the new shit!"
In a recent interview, SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera stated about the songwriting process for the band's next album, "We're thinking about making the songs a little shorter, so if you can imagine maybe a little bit like MINOR THREAT mixed with [SLAYER's] 'Reign In Blood' mixed with SOULFLY, with still some world music, but much smaller, and the songs not so long — shorter. It'll be more aggressive than [last year's] 'Conquer' [album] even, because it'll be shorter — it'll be like when SLAYER did 'Reign In Blood', [that] kind of thing."
In other news, Burns and wife Joy are expecting their first baby, a son named Ryder Lee Burns, on Febuary 4. Bobby says, "I'm so fucking excited / scared / nervous, I can barely stand it! He'll be a little rocker, for sure! He's already been to three PRIMER 55 [Bobby's other band] shows and five SOULFLY shows and he's not even here yet!"
He adds, "Needless to say, I'll be taking the month of Febuary off to be at home with him and my wife.. So I hope I won't be missing any of the SOULFLY tours, but what can ya do?!"
"Conquer" sold around 8,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 66 on The Billboard 200 chart. This number is in line with the opening tally of the CD's predecessor, "Dark Ages", which shifted a little more than 8,000 copies during its first week of release in October 2005 to enter the chart at No. 155.
Maryland rockers CLUTCH will be IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson's guest on Friday, November 27 during Bruce's weekly BBC 6 Music radio program, dubbed "The Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show". Listen to the broadcast live via the Internet between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. (midnight) U.K. time at BBC.co.uk.
"Strange Cousins From the West", the ninth studio album from CLUTCH, sold 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The band's previous studio CD, "From Beale Street To Oblivion", opened with around 15,000 units back in April 2007 to land at No. 52.
CLUTCH's 2005 effort, "Robot Hive / Exodus", entered the chart at No. 93 after premiering with 13,000 copies.
"Strange Cousins From the West" was made available both digitally and through retail on July 14. Produced by CLUTCH and J. Robbins at Magpie Cage Studios in Baltimore, the effort is the first CLUTCH studio LP to be released on the band's own Weathermaker Music, through RED Distribution.
"Strange Cousins From the West" includes the POPPO'S BLUES BAND cover song "Algo Ha Cambiado", which Neil Fallon sings in Spanish. Poppo was a legendary Argentinian hard rock singer/guitarist throughout the '70s and '80s.
The title "Strange Cousins From the West" was taken from a line in the song "Minotaur".
Although CLUTCH has toured the world extensively over the past two years and released multiple CLUTCH-related projects, "Strange Cousins..." is the band's first original studio work since 2007's "From Beale Street to Oblivion" which featured the hit "Electric Worry".
Gigz Giger of Rock Circus TV has uploaded quality video footage (see below) of CLUTCH's September 9, 2009 concert at Mr. Smalls Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
"Wreckage Of My Past", the forthcoming film documenting the life of music icon Ozzy Osbourne as he approaches his 60th birthday, is currently in post-production and is expected to be completed within the next few weeks. The documentary is being directed by Mike Piscitelli and is written and produced by Jordan Tappis. It will be the first release from Jacko Productions, a company started by Ozzy's son Jack.
Piscitellihas uploaded a couple of behind-the-scenes photos from the post-production stage. Check them out below.
Newly sober, Ozzy has finally reached a point of clarity as he looks back on a lifetime of unresolved issues, unparalleled success, misdiagnosed diseases, severed ties, and a recurring dependency on drugs and alcohol. Due in theaters early 2010, "Wreckage Of My Past" is a film about reconciling the past and looking toward the future.
Jack Osbourne is executive-producing "Wreckage Of My Past" along with his mother, Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy's longtime manager.
Jack and Sharon are financing the film themselves.
Filming for "Wreckage Of My Past" began in January 2008. The documentary will reportedly include interviews with all the principal members of BLACK SABBATH, the various incarnations of Ozzy's solo band, family and friends. But the trick, Jack said, was getting them to be truthful. "The hard thing is getting people to be honest and not have it be a fluff piece, because that's not what we're trying to do," he told RollingStone.com. "I'm trying to paint a realistic picture of who my father is. I think 'The Osbournes', to a degree, tarnished the public's perception of my dad as a bit of a senile, funny, bumbling guy. Yeah, my dad can be that guy, but it's not him. I think that almost discredited who he is as an artist. My dad's not an idiot — he's nothing short of a genius, in my opinion. He does have huge flaws, and we're trying to really paint an honest picture of that."
According to Variety, Jack Osbourne filmed several of his father's concerts, compiled early archive footage, and was hoping to secure an interview with Ozzy's first wife. He was planning to put the footage together with Piscitelli and Tappis before talking to distributors.
"I want people to see John Osbourne as the guy I grew up with, the tormented, complex musician whose personal demons manifest themselves in so many crazy, unique ways," Osbourne said. "He's agreed to it but is putting up his guard, massively afraid of putting his true self out there on display for people to see."
"A Horse Called Golgotha", the new video from Savannah, Georgia's BARONESS, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in the band's hometown with director Joshua Green for The Distillery Collective, who previously worked with the band on the "Wanderlust" video.
"A Horse Called Golgotha" comes off BARONESS' second full-length album, "Blue Record", which sold around 4,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 117 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at No. 1 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. Released on October 13 via Relapse Records, the follow-up to 2007's critically acclaimed "The Red Album" was recorded in Dallas, Texas with producer/engineer John Congleton (EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, THE POLYPHONIC SPREE, BLACK MOUNTAIN).
BARONESS will embark on a full U.S. tour in support of "Blue Record" starting on November 18 in Washington, D.C. Guests on this month-long tour with include EARTHLESS, TORCHE, PIG DESTROYER, US CHRISTMAS, IRON AGE and more.
BARONESS will make its Australian live debut as part of the massive Soundwave Festival. Other acts taking part in the event include FAITH NO MORE, JANE'S ADDICTION, AFI, MESHUGGAH, PENNYWISE, SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE and ISIS.
Rex Bowman of The Roanoke Times reports: A massive search by 360 volunteers Friday (November 6) apparently turned up no new leads in the disappearance of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, but organizers said they will return to the job today and Sunday.
Volunteers from across Virginia turned out to take part in the search across 2 square miles of Charlottesville.
Working in teams of 10, they formed lines to walk through woods and up and down slopes. They peeped into culverts, peered under parked cars and poked through piles of leaves with sticks. They also looked into the windows of abandoned homes and climbed through the underbrush of some of Charlottesville's woollier neighborhoods.
Each team spent between two and four hours scouring the area assigned to it, and some teams went out more than once. The Texas-based Laura Recovery Center, which organized the three-day search, anticipates as many as 1,000 people could repeat the effort today.
Altitude TV has uploaded video footage (see below) of DEFTONES performing a brand new song, "Rocket Skates", late last month at this year's SmokeOut festival at the San Manuel Amphitheatre and festival grounds in San Bernardino, California.
DEFTONES bassist Chi Cheng is said to be "in semi-conscious state" following a November 2008 car accident in the middle of the recording sessions for the band's long-awaited new album, which had a previous working title of "Eros" (a title which is said to have since been scrapped).
Filling in for Chi during the DEFTONES' recent live shows has been Sergio Vega, who previously played with QUICKSAND.
Regarding the current status of the band's new CD, the DEFTONES stated in a June 2009 online posting that had decided to start anew and begin tracking an entirely new album. "The songs recorded for 'Eros' are very special to us as they are the latest with Chi (and we certainly hope not the last); they have history and significant meaning to us," the band explained. "However, as we neared completion on 'Eros', we realized that this record doesn't best encompass and represent who we are currently as people and as musicians." The band hopes that the songs recorded with Chi will see the light of day eventually, but "we collectively made the decision that we needed to take a new approach, and with Chi's condition heavy on our minds while doing so."
The band added that they returned "to the studio to do what we felt was right artistically. Our inspiration and unity as a band is stronger than it has ever been before and we needed to channel that energy into our music, and deliver to our fans what you rightly deserve: the best DEFTONES record that we can make. The decision to hold off on releasing 'Eros' has no connection with Chi's condition or anything associated. This was, and is, purely a creative decision by the band to write, record, and deliver an amazing product. As a result, we feel like this is the best record we've ever written. And although Chi is not playing bass with us, his presence is dramatically felt in our hearts and on our minds every day when we step into that studio, and you will feel it in the music."
Cheng is 39 years old and is a poet as well as a musician. He released a CD of his poetry called "The Bamboo Parachute" in 2000.
Cheng has been a member of DEFTONES since its formation in 1988. The band released its debut disc, "Adrenaline", in 1995 and scored a platinum record with 2000's "White Pony".
Frontiers Records will release BLACKWOOD CREEK's self-titled debut album on December 4, 2009 in Europe and January 12, 2010 in the USA.
BLACKWOOD CREEK is a Kip Winger side project put together with his brother Nate on drums and childhood friend Peter Fletcher on guitar.
It all actually started in 1969 in Littleton, Colorado when a 7-year-old Kip Winger walked up to Peter Fletcher and said, "Hey, you got big lips, you wanna fight?" Fletcher then stood up and towered over Winger, at which point they started a band instead! They reconvened in the basement of the Wingers house where Kip's older brother Nate was pounding on the drums. BLACKWOOD CREEK was born.
They went on to play every junior high and high school and eventually night clubs in their path, performing songs by their favorite bands like GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, BLACK SABBATH, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, LED ZEPPELIN and their original songs which they were particularly passionate about, to the point of getting fired from jobs for not playing enough popular material.
In 1980 they went their separate ways. Nate and Fletcher went to Los Angeles, Kip went to New York, where he landed a gig with ALICE COOPER and then went on to form WINGER. Nate recorded with many bands in L.A., including RATT, KIX, EUROPE. Fletcher formed the PIGMY LOVE CIRCUS, including drummer Danny Carey from TOOL.
BLACKWOOD CREEK reformed in 2007 to record 11 new songs. It's obvious that the chemistry is still rock solid. These 11 tracks embody 40 years of blood, sweat and tears of three musicians who started out together, went their separate ways and reform on common ground.
"Blackwood Creek" track listing:
01. Out In Outer Space 02. Nothing But The Sun 03. Your Revolution 04. Dead Stung 05. After Your Heart 06. Albatross 07. Jimmy And Georgia 08. Rack Of Greed 09. Love Inspector 10. Joy Ride 11. Wooden Shoe
BLABBERMOUTH.NET is run and operated independently of Roadrunner Records. The accuracy of the information
contained herein is neither confirmed nor guaranteed by Roadrunner Records, and the views and opinions of
authors expressed on these pages do not necessarily state or reflect those of Roadrunner Records or its employees.
